Addis Ababa, 07 March 2025 — The United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force on Peace and Security held its Twenty Fourth consultative meeting on 17 February 2025, in Addis Ababa.

The meeting reviewed the status of the partnership between the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) with an update on the implementation of the Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security. In this context, the meeting discussed peace and security developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Libya, Somalia, South Sudan and The Sudan, as well as discussions on the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 adopted on 21 December 2023, and a follow-up on discussions on the security transition and the new African Union mission in Somalia.

The AU Commission and the UN Secretariat were represented respectively by Commissioner Bankole Adeoye (Political Affairs, Peace and Security); and the Under-Secretaries-General Rosemary DiCarlo (Political and Peacebuilding Affairs), Jean-Pierre Lacroix (Peace Operations), Atul Khare (Operational Support), and Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union. The meeting was also attended by other senior officials from the two Organizations. Ms. Minata Cessouma Samate, outgoing Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS), addressed the opening segment of the meeting to acknowledge and expressed appreciation for the excellent collaboration with the United Nations during her tenure in office as Commissioner for Political Affairs (2017-2021), before its merger into the current Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department, and in her current capacity as Commissioner for HHS.

The Joint Task Force took note of the considerable progress achieved in the UN-AU partnership including with regional economic communities and mechanisms in Africa, together with international partners. These include sustained collaboration on support to AU peace support operations, early warning, prevention initiatives and coordinated support to national authorities for the conduct of timely, peaceful, and inclusive elections, as well as for the promotion and protection of human rights.

The meeting welcomed efforts to deepen collaboration on operational support matters, including through joint learning and the exchange of knowledge and expertise. The meeting acknowledged the positive impact these efforts have had on mandate implementation across various operational contexts. Both Organizations emphasized the need to strengthen collaboration in support of mediation and to continue to prioritize their joint initiatives on the women, peace and security, youth for peace and security,  and the emerging climate, peace and security nexus agendas.

On Libya, the Joint Task Force welcomed the appointment of Ms. Hannah Tetteh as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya. Participants also welcomed the establishment of a Libyan Advisory Committee to provide recommendations for resolving outstanding issues to enable the holding of national elections. The meeting noted the signing of the intra-Libya Reconciliation Charter as an important step in the process and underscored the imperative of UN-AU cooperation in advancing the Libyan political transition and national reconciliation.

Regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Joint Task Force expressed deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the eastern part of the country, which has brought the region to the brink of war, affecting the lives of thousands of civilians, mostly women and children, and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation. The meeting reminded all parties of the responsibility to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law. The meeting recalled the initiatives aimed at resolving the crisis, including, lately, the Ministerial AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) session held on 28 January, the East Africa Community (EAC) Extraordinary Summit held on 29 January, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Extraordinary Summit held on 31 January, the Joint EAC-SADC Summit held on 8 February and the AU PSC session at the level of Heads of State and Government which convened on 14 February. The meeting deplored the fact that despite the urgent call for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities following the 8 February joint summit of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), hostilities continue as the Mouvement du 23 mars (M23), supported by the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), pushes further into South Kivu and continues to assert military control over parts of North Kivu. The meeting called the M23 and RDF to respect the ceasefire agreement, immediately cease all hostile actions, and withdraw from occupied areas. The Joint Task Force further called on the RDF to cease support to the M23 and withdraw from DRC territory. It called for the immediate implementation of the joint EAC-SADC Summit decisions related to the opening of Goma airport and supply routes too humanitarian aid. The Task Force expressed its condolences for the UN blue helmets and the forces of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) killed in the line of duty, underscoring that attacks on peacekeepers may constitute a war crime. It called on the M23 and RDF to lift all restrictions on the freedom of movement of United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and refrain any action that may impede the implementation of its mandated responsibilities. The Task Force commended H.E. President João Lourenço for progress achieved under the Luanda process and called for an immediate resumption of talks between the parties to the conflict. The Task Force reaffirmed its support to the Luanda and Nairobi processes and underscored that the implementation of the provisions of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region remains a critical pathway to durable peace and stability.

On Somalia, the Joint Task Force highlighted the strong partnership between the AU and the UN in Somalia and the need for continued close cooperation to ensure support for Somalia in advancing state building priorities and in the security transition. The meeting noted that the potential hybrid application of resolution 2719 to the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia is essential to ensure the Mission’s predictable and sustainable financing and to protect and build on the security gains achieved in Somalia.

The meeting welcomed progress achieved in the elaboration of the Joint AU-UN Roadmap for the Operationalization of resolution 2719 which was endorsed during the 8th UN-AU Annual Conference held on 21 October 2024. The meeting noted that while the roadmap is not a prerequisite for implementing resolution 2719, it serves as a framework for continuously strengthening the performance and impact of both the AU and the UN.

On Sudan, the Joint Task Force expressed grave concern about the escalation of violence in the Sudan, including the increasing intercommunal tensions and ethnicization of the fighting in Darfur. The Joint Task Force reiterated its call on the warring parties to immediately cease fighting and take steps towards the lasting peace that the people of Sudan demand. The Joint Task Force urged continued efforts to ensure coordination in diplomatic initiatives to put an end to the conflict and support the Sudanese in embarking on an inclusive political process that will return Sudan to a democratic transition. The Joint Task Force reaffirmed the indispensable UN-AU partnership on Sudan which provides an anchor for a broad multilateral coalition to end the conflict. It was noted that there is need to work together to fulfil the provision of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) Act (2024) which requires the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the United Nations Secretary General to nominate three commissioners to be appointed to the CTRH.

On South Sudan, there was consensus on the need for ongoing support and closer collaboration on the operationalisation of key institutions, including the national unified forces, the constitutional review process, as well as support to electoral management bodies. This is with the aim to ensuring forward momentum with regards to the Revitalized Agreement, while allowing for efforts to expand the peace process through the Tumaini Peace Initiative. 

The next statutory meeting of the Joint Task Force will be hosted by the United Nations in New York at a date to be agreed by both Organizations.

Source: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2025-03-07/note-...

Photos available here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC2Sik